Blog Post // 2025-04-03

Thoughts from 2024 and beyond!

I tried my best to come up with my favourite albums/songs etc. of 2024 but my mind is struggling to be able to focus fully on tasks. I think I am going through a more extreme period of CPTSD. And I know it is weird, but I think because music is so emotional, and I have associated so much of it with parts of my life, both good and bad, it makes it hard to fully jump back into it. Some of my trauma is so deeply entrenched in a musical backdrop. Whether it brings on strong emotions, hurt and pain. Whether it soothes, or lifts my burdens, I want to embrace music!

So here are the 3 albums to check out from 2024! Drum Roll....

Aquilus Bellum II. I don't even think it is really metal. Maybe not every song anyways. This album is beautiful! It caught me off guard. It has a haunting quality to it. I love the artwork on the cover, as well. It leaves you with many questions. And yes, there are some operatic female vocals, but they worked here.'The album reminds me of getting lost somewhere and being scared at first and then settling in and finding your surroundings somehow comforting.

The next one I will mention, are my fellow Canadians. Apogean Cyberstrictive, this album is tech metal, but it stands out in the crowd for me. For one, I like the vocalist, each way the voice is used is right to me. Even the pig squeals. I have become more fond of them. The interludesque parts add atmosphere to a genre that sometimes gets too technical, so it breaks it up nicely. I don't need to turn this off at any point. It works from start to finish for me!

And third there is Wintersun Time II. Another very beautiful album. I like that they bring in extra instruments. I wasn't sure about the Japanese sound at first, but there is no escaping the work put into this, and the relaxing pace.I suppose it did take many years.

So far in 2025, a stand out for me has been Pothamus Abur from Belgium, with an interesting mixture of genres, but the right atmosphere for me. Relaxing yet emotional, a powerful journey. The right balance of guitar effects. They consider themselves to be sludge/post metal.

And another one I am looking forward to is Ancient Death. Death metal, with atmospheric parts, great vocals and mixing genres. There album is coming out soon. Ego Dissolution.

I have been listening to some heavy metal from the 70s because my son is really into it, and he has been picking up guitar. He is learning new songs all the time! His favourites from that era are Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath. He is into Nirvana as well, and it wasn't me. I let him like what he likes.

My current favourite band, In Mourning, came out with a shirt that was made for me. How did they know? A lady riding the death horse. I think if I designed a shirt it would look like this!

The 2 concerts I missed, and wish I would have made it to when they made/make it to Ontario are Harakiri For The Sky, and Shadow of Intent. These are both bands I intend to see live one day!

This past month, I experienced family emergencies that required an ambulance twice in 2 days, 2 separate members of my family. One of them, isn't coming home. Instead my aunt is going to long-term care. This was the first time I found someone I love so dearly, in their home, looking like they were dead, not responding and unconscious. I thought I was going to be there, during her last moments, a fear I have had since being around my sister who was dying when I was a kid. The worry that someone will die in my presence. I have had 2 die in my presence in my lifetime, and I can say I am glad I was with them now, but it doesn't make it easy.

Hard to believe my big dog is 8 years old. He still gets around very well in the bush. We made it to the bottom of the mountain. There is a beaver house around the corner and the open area is a pond. My happy place! Just me, the ravens, the dog and whatever the tracks were. I think otters and possibly a large cat bobcat or lynx. 

Take care everyone!